Our pediatric therapists offer clinical services to children, adolescents and their families who have sustained traumatic injuries in both motor vehicle collisions and in accidental injuries including:
- Acquired brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Complex orthopedic injuries
- Counselling for Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress (MVC only)
- Sports Injuries and Falls
- Concussion Management
Experiencing a traumatic event in childhood can have both severe and long-lasting effects. Children who have been injured and/or traumatized see the world as a frightening and dangerous place. When childhood trauma is not resolved, this fundamental sense of fear and helplessness carries over into adulthood, setting the stage for potential further trauma. Early intervention is critical.
Our pediatric team includes a diverse group of clinical social workers who collectively offer a multitude of treatment modalities and have extensive training in treatment areas including but not limited to the following:
MindCALM, is a specialized counselling program within The Social Work Consulting Group, specifically designed to assist youth and their families through the provision of psychoeducation and the implementation of effective strategies to promote emotional regulation, increase resilience, coping capacity and overall emotional well-being.
Our therapists are Registered Master’s Level Social Workers with The Social Work Consulting Group, a clinical social work practice within the Greater Toronto Area since 2006.
Counselling services are provided in-home, in-school or in our offices located in Toronto and Vaughan. Please note that we also provide teleconferencing/video counselling to best suit you and your families’ needs.
For more information visit http://www.mindcalm.ca/.
Brain Injury Family Intervention – Adolescents (BIFI-A)
Developed by researchers at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, this structured family system intervention is designed to facilitate adjustment for adolescents (13 – 19 years) with acquired brain injury and their family members. The BIFI-A (adapted from Dr. Jeffrey Kreutzer’s adult BIFI) incorporates a broad curriculum, comprised of multiple components: education, emotional support, and skill building. Theoretical underpinnings of BIFI-A include Family Systems Theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy. (http://www.tbifamilyresearch.com/bifi-a)
Watch Wait and Wonder (WWW)
Watch, Wait and Wonder is a child led psychotherapeutic approach that specifically and directly uses an infant’s (0-4 years) spontaneous activity in a free play format to enhance maternal sensitivity and responsiveness, the child’s sense of self and self-efficacy, emotion regulation, and the child-parent attachment relationship. The approach provides space for the infant/child and parent to work through developmental and relational struggles through play (http://watchwaitandwonder.com/)
Therapeutic Play
Therapeutic play is a term used to describe the type of communication a therapist utilizes to help a child cope with a difficult circumstance. Through toys, games and visual aids, therapists are able to offer children a sense of comfort and familiarity, which may help them communicate more effectively. The primary purpose of therapeutic play is to assist a child in coping with emotional or physical trauma.
Art Therapy
Art therapy combines the creative process and psychotherapy, facilitating expression, self-exploration and the transformation of feelings, emotions, trauma and relationships. Various art mediums are utilized in the creative therapeutic process that allows children and adolescents to explore their inner world. Art therapy differs from traditional art in that the emphasis is on the inner process and response rather than the end product. No artistic ability is required.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that works with families to nurture positive change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between children and their parents and emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in overall emotional well-being and psychological health.